How long can someone draw unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

The standard UI benefit period in Washington is 26 weeks (6 months) for regular unemployment insurance. This hasn't changed - it's been the baseline for years. However, the actual number of weeks you can collect depends on your work history and earnings during your base period. Some people might qualify for fewer weeks if their work history is limited.

Just to add - the 26 weeks is for regular state unemployment. During the pandemic there were federal extensions that added extra weeks, but those ended in 2021. Right now it's back to the standard 26 week maximum unless Congress passes new legislation.

One thing to keep in mind is that Washington has something called Extended Benefits (EB) that can kick in during periods of high unemployment in the state. This can add up to 13 additional weeks beyond the regular 26 weeks. But EB is only available when the state unemployment rate meets certain triggers, and it's not available right now as far as I know.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get definitive answers about your specific situation, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that helps people get through to ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth it if you need to speak with someone directly about your benefit duration.

Just want to mention that even though you can draw for up to 26 weeks, you still have to meet all the weekly requirements - filing your weekly claim, doing job searches, being available for work, etc. Miss any of those and your benefits can get stopped even if you haven't used up all your weeks.

26 weeks goes by faster than you think when you're unemployed. Start job searching immediately even if you think you have plenty of time. The job market is still competitive in a lot of industries.

For planning purposes, remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe when you file your tax return. Just something to factor into your financial planning.

Does anyone know if the 26 weeks resets if you get a job and then get laid off again? Or is there a waiting period before you can collect again?

Just to clarify something - when people say '26 weeks maximum' that's assuming you qualify for the full amount. Some people with limited work history might only qualify for fewer weeks. Washington ESD calculates it based on your earnings during your base period.

IMPORTANT: If you're getting close to exhausting your 26 weeks and still haven't found work, start looking into other assistance programs early. Don't wait until your last week to figure out what's available. Food assistance, housing help, etc. can take time to get approved.

I used Claimyr a few months ago when my claim got stuck in adjudication and I couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. It was worth it to finally talk to a real person who could explain what was holding up my claim. Sometimes you just need to speak with an actual agent to get things resolved.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you're on standby status (temporary layoff expecting to return to work), the time you're on standby still counts against your 26 week maximum. So if you're on standby for 10 weeks then get permanently laid off, you'd only have 16 weeks left of regular benefits.

Bottom line - 26 weeks is the standard maximum for regular unemployment in Washington state. Plan accordingly, start your job search immediately, and make sure you understand all the weekly requirements to keep your benefits flowing. The time goes by quicker than you expect when you're dealing with unemployment.